For 50 years MINI has proven that good things do come in small packages. Barely bigger than a matchbox car, the compact Mini revolutionized the car world by being cheap, economical, spacious (on the inside, at least), sporty, and fashionable. This original Mini was deemed so good that it remained largely unchanged for over 40 years. BMW bought the rights to the brand and has been producing MINIs since 2001. Now in its third generation, the MINI lineup continues to expand, with five variants of the car now available to consumers.

High Revving - The entire lineup is immensely enjoyable to drive; even the base version is fun. - 50 years on, the car remains a style icon. The new MINI still turns heads wherever it goes. - Thanks to parent company BMW’s influence, the MINI manages to feel like a more up-market car despite its small size and affordable price.

Clutch Burner - That affordable price? It’s there, but the MINI’s price can quickly skyrocket to luxury-car-like levels as options are added. - The rear doors of the new MINI Clubman pay tribute to the original version, but the vertical split down the middle really hurts rearward visibility.

Stall - The MINI E, while a good concept, is nothing more than an extremely limited, overpriced accessory for those who like to shout how “green” they are. It does nothing to help “real” people get fun, eco-friendly motoring. - MINI currently has no plans to release the 60-mpg diesel-powered Cooper D in North America. - Torque steer! There's so much power for such a small car that it's inevitable that the front wheels are going to snake around on the pavement making it hard to control at times. Here's hoping for an AWD version in the very near future.

There are three types of MINIs available: the standard Cooper, the convertible and the larger Clubman. Proving that good things come in threes, there are three variants of those aforementioned types; the standard cars come with a 1.6-liter, 118-horsepower naturally aspirated four-banger. The Cooper S variant gets a 172-horsepower twin-scroll turbocharged version of the same motor, while the John Cooper Works (JCW) variant gets a turboed 1.6 good for 208 horsepower.

Undoubtedly, the race-bred John Cooper Works version is the performance star of the bunch thanks to its aforementioned 208-horsepower motor, four-piston Brembo brakes and reinforced six-speed manual transmission.

However, thanks to its light weight and excellent design across the range, the entire lineup is incredibly fun to drive. The base 118-horsepower MINI still feels surprisingly quick and is incredibly responsive. This base car just loves to be thrown into corners, and it does manage to deliver that clichéd “go-kart” driving experience. Move up the range to the turbocharged Cooper S or John Cooper Works versions and the fun only increases.

The electric MINI E has a 150-mile range and is said to deliver all the fun of the standard MINIs. The downside to this car is that only 500 are available for lease only (and at $850 a month!), and these cars are available only in the Los Angeles and New York areas.

The modern MINI earned its popularity by remaining true to the iconic design touches first introduced 50 years ago, while still bringing the car fully into the 21st century. BMW made sure to retain details like the classic two-box hatchback shape, the bug-eyed “face,” center-mounted speedo, and more. Despite the all-new everything, the current third-generation MINI looks just like the last one and MINI fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Inside the car, one will find a well-appointed interior that looks better than that of other rides in the compact class. If there’s an option you can think of, chances are it’s available in a MINI. Clever design touches -- such as the MINI logo-shaped climate control panel -- add to the car’s overall appeal. While we’re certain that four adults can fit in a MINI, we wouldn’t recommend sticking any of them in the back seat -- at least not while someone over 5'3" is driving. The head and shoulder room are great, it’s just the legroom that is a bit lacking. Those getting a MINI E won’t have to worry about backseat passengers, as the entire back seat was tossed for the car’s battery pack. Cargo space is decent in the standard MINI and, as expected, is slightly better in the Clubman. Those weaned on large sedans and SUVs will still find the car’s practicality to be more than lacking. Still, for the everyday city dweller (and that’s most of us), any car found in the MINI lineup is a fun, comfortable and practical machine.